Gilead’s experimental HIV treatment shows low discontinuation rates in studies

Gilead Sciences on Wednesday said its experimental single-tablet ​HIV treatment was generally well tolerated ‌with low discontinuation rates, positioning ​the single-tablet regimen as a ⁠potential option for patients to switch to after the virus is already ‌suppressed.

Detailed results from another late-stage trial were presented on ‌Wednesday at a conference ‌in ⁠Denver, as Gilead prepares regulatory ⁠filings for the experimental combination.

In one trial, discontinuation rates due to adverse ​events were 1.6% ‌and 0.5% in the two treatment arms respectively. Both data were considered low.

In the same trial, ‌0.8% of patients taking ​the combination pill had detectable virus in their blood ⁠after 48 weeks, compared with 1.1% of those who remained on ‌multi-tablet regimens.

The company studied the pill in HIV patients whose virus was already suppressed, including those switching from complex multi-tablet regimens or from a guideline-recommended single-tablet treatment.

Participants ‌also reported higher treatment satisfaction after ​switching to the experimental regimen, according to a paper published ⁠in The Lancet.

Gilead said it ⁠plans to submit data from both trials to regulators. The ‌combination has not been approved by any regulatory authority.